RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A San Bernardino County Grand Jury panel, which visited the Rancho Cucamonga animal shelter three times in February, March and April, found a variety of complaints and allegations against the shelter to be unfounded or unsubstantiated, according to the report.

The investigation and subsequent report on the city shelter came after an anonymous complaint filed in December alleged cruelty to animals there.

The complaints are similar to those made publicly against the shelter by former volunteers who said they were let go after they spoke out publicly late last year against the shelter's direction and policy.

The shelter's director said the Grand Jury report has given her a sense of validation and closure after months of criticism and debate over the direction of the department.

"I'm very happy we can put this behind us," Veronica Fincher said. "All the complaints were unfounded. We really throw our programs and services to benefit the animals."

Mayor Dennis Michael also indicated he was pleased with the outcome.

"If there were one or two findings of concern, maybe we do need to dig in deeper with the staff to correct them, but there were no deficiencies noted in the report," Michael said. "Everything reflected a positive operation."

Fincher said she wasn't surprised by the investigation.

"This was an opportunity for a third party to investigate our center and give us constructive criticism or say publicly what we are doing for our animals," Fincher said.

Among the findings:

Dogs are not confined to cages for long periods of time.

The center accurately reports adoption rates.

Programs promoting the shelter have not been discontinued.

Management, staff and volunteers exhibit professionalism and commitment in the operation of the shelter.

The shelter is transparent in its operation.

The Grand Jury also investigated a report of the discharge of a weapon on shelter property. The complaint apparently matches an allegation from former animal shelter volunteers earlier this year that a political sign had been shot at last year with a tranquilizer gun.

The report states that the Grand Jury did not find enough evidence to substantiate the allegation.

City Manager John Gillison said the report is vindication for the city.

"We're very pleased with the results," Gillison said. "It's an independent third party, and they vindicated what we knew. None of the complaints were found to be substantiated, and we're very pleased with the result. We're hopeful that for most of the residents and community that had concerns over the shelter not operating the way it should, this report should allay those concerns."

The Grand Jury's findings likely won't satisfy those who have challenged shelter operations at City Council meetings month after month for the past year. Calls for change have come from dismissed former shelter volunteers and their supporters, who say the city-run shelter is moving away from a no-kill philosophy and could do more to help animals find homes.

Members have brought up a 22 percent increase from 2011 to 2012 in euthanasia for medical or behavior reasons.

Fincher, in an earlier interview, said all options are exhausted before an animal is euthanized, and she said the center reaches out to rescue organizations, support shelters and the public to find homes for animals. Decisions to euthanize an animal are based on its ability to adjust to kennel life, adoptability and safety for prospective adopters, she said.

Critics have said the efforts aren't enough and that animals are being improperly categorized as unadoptable.

Susan Keithly, a former shelter volunteer and a leading voice of Together Helping Animals Thrive, said her group plans to discuss the report at the Wednesday night council meeting.

Keithly dismissed the findings from the report, noting that the first two visits by Grand Jury investigators in February and March were announced and expected by the city.

"It was a one-sided investigation, pure, clean and simple," Keithly said. "The fact that they went in announced, that set the whole tone ... The third visit (in April) was unannounced, but we have been putting pressure, we have been rattling cages, and we did make them step up a notch."

The group's Facebook page addressed the release of the report.

"If animals' lives were not on the line, it would almost be comical that the City is taking high praise from the same Grand Jury that gave the Devore Animal Shelter flying colors in their report the year before," a post on the group's Facebook post states. "That should be a big red flag to everyone, but of course the City fails to mention that."

The Rancho Cucamonga shelter took in 5,390 animals in 2012. Of those, 785 were euthanized for reasons including sickness, injury or for being overly aggressive. The adoption rate was 84 percent.